A NATIONAL salt sale has been set up as Worcestershire stays in the grip of the big freeze.

Despite a slight increase in temperature over the past few days, the mercury looks like it will stay low for the time being.

The county council has about 5,000 tonnes of salt grit left in stock – but it is expecting to get another delivery this week.

It is not yet known how much more it will get.

At a meeting of cabinet last week, John Hobbs, director of environmental services, said the county had experienced the most snow since 1981.

After the meeting, a council spokesman said: “With our current stock levels and deliveries promised by the Department for Transport this week, the authority will be able to continue the level of gritting activities that have been running throughout this period of unprecedented cold weather.”

Mr Hobbs said the fact that this is the third year in a row the county has been hit by extreme weather might mean the council would have to review the resources it put in place to deal with such circumstances.

Mr Hobbs praised council staff – many cancelled Christmas parties – contractors and farmers for their work in helping to clear the ice and snow.

“All in all – and considering the type of weather we’ve had and its exceptional nature – things have gone reasonably well,” he said.

Meanwhile, the county’s district councils are still working to clear a backlog of rubbish, which has piled up over Christmas.

Residents in Worcester are reminded that there will be no green bin collections in the city until the second week of January.

This week and next, black bins only will be collected.

The next green bin collections will not start until Tuesday, January 11.

Anyone who missed this week’s collection should put their black bin out next week on their usual collection day.

For details, call 01905 722233.

In Wychavon, bin collections are back to normal.

Any bins missed in the week beginning Monday, December 20, will be picked up – along with any overspill – from Monday.

Recyclable waste should be put in clear plastic bags while landfill waste should go in black bin bags.

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THE WEATHERMAN’S VIEW

Worcestershire will be slightly warmer for the new year than it was over Christmas.

Your Worcester News weatherman Paul Damari said less cold air had arrived from the Atlantic, raising the temperatures slightly above freezing.

However, he warned of widespread mist and fog, with visibility down to between 100 and 200 metres. This weather will be around New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, and it is going to be overcast, grey and fog hanging around,” he said.

“So drivers need to take care as they go and keep their lights on. The temperatures will be between 3-6C (37-43F), although there may be sleet or wet snow in higher areas.”

Mr Damari said temperatures overnight would be between -2 and -3C (27-28F), so black ice was possible in places.